Visible card index



Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,763

A. VON AUW VI 5 IBLE CARD INDEX INVENTOR TEHEALWIN VON AUW 6y hair ailbrne ys MMM Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,649,763 PATENT OFFICE.

ALWIN voN A'UW, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 noonom & rnasn com PANY, or BnooxLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

VISIBLE CARD INDEX.

Application filed July 18, 1926. Serial No. 122,160.

This invention relates to the overlapping type of visible index in which the cards have hinged slidable mountmg and more part1cularly to the novel form of mounting the cards on the panel or support. In the index to which my invention relates a single downwardly depending ear is formed entirely outside the body of the card on each-side thereof, and adapted to lie partly under the flange of the panel.

The association between one card and its neighbor is such that while there is engagement between the cards even when they are not in the panel, yet that association avoids the disadvantages of nested cards and permits the ready removal or insertion of any card in the series while the cards are in the panel, without sliding the other cards apart. Another object of my invention is to provide a form of card which is at the same time economical to manufacture and extremely simple in manipulation. Another object of my invention is to provide a form of index card which has all the advantages of direct interconnection between the cards and also all the advantages of the non-nesting type of card. Another object of my invention is to provide a perfectly flat surface for the body of the card with corresponding advantages in case of writing thereon. A further advantage of my construction is that by merely tearing or cutting off the depending ears, one obtains a card exactly like the ordinary vertical index card, which can of course be filed away in a vertical index if desired. Another object of my invention is to provide a form of visible index in which the whole of both sides of each card is available while the card is in the panel.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my new index card Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of my panel containing a series of cards, the flanges being partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is an exaggerated vertical section through the ears of the cards on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the panel showing the first step of inserting a new card between two cards already in the panel;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one edge of a ortion of the panel showing a later stage 0 in- -inch. Thus when preferably lie close to of the card and extend sorting a new card between two cards already in the panel;

Fig. 6 is similar to Figs. 4 and 5 and shows the insertion of the second car of the card in the anel; while Fig. is a view similar to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, showing the addition of a card at the top of the series. Y This invention relates to the type of visible index in which the cards are slidably mounted on a panel in such manner as to be hinged with relation thereto and yet at the same time be individually removable therefrom. To obtain this complete flexibility in arrangement and ready insertion and removal,

and yet at the same time have an index of the utmost simplicity and compactness, I use a panel 10 having flanges 11 forming opposed mwardlvfacing grooves spaced a distance apart which is greater than the width of the body of the cards by perhaps or of an making an index for the standard 3 x 5 cards, the inner edges ofthe opposed flanges will be perhaps 5% or 5 inches apart.

The cards, which together with the panel form my index. each consists of a body portion 10 with a depending car 14 on each side of the card outside the body portion. These ears may, if desired, be formed integrally with the card out of one piece of sheet material, thus eliminating the necessity for individual metal carriers. In the drawings the body portion has been shown as consisting of a rectangular portion which may correspond to the ordinary record card, hinged to a narrow strip which, with the ears, would constitute a carrier. These depending ears the sides of the body outwardly to a width which insures adequate overlap with the flanges with which they cooperate. I prefer to make the ears wide enough to use their outer edges as guides against sideways movement. Each ear consists essentially of an oblong portion outside of and severed from the'body of the card from the lower end up to a point 16 perhaps of an inch from the top of the card. In making this severance it is preferable not to cut away any material. These depending ears can be as long as desired, although I prefer to make them about an inch, or even less, measuring from the top of the card. These very simple external ears when combined with the panel having flanges spaced as above described forma peculiarly useful combination for 1ndex purposes, and especially so when the considered a carrier for the rectangular portion of the card and may be made separately if desired. In the drawings the depending portion or point of the ear is numbered 17 and the part above the juncture with the body isnumbered 18. The upper edge of the card is numbered 19 and the body 12.

Assuming that the cards are to be assembled as a unit before being put in the panel, the cards are associated in a manner which will now be described. One card is added above the other by simply placing the new card on top of the revious card with the depending portionsl of the ears of the upper card behind the depending ears of the card below but with the body-12 of the upper card in frontof the body of the card below. The whole series of cards are then mounted on the panel by inserting the ears under the flanges. This can be done by slidingthe cards in from one end of the panel, or at any desired intermediate point by flexing the cards along a vertical median line in the well known manner and inserting one column of ears at a time.

Similarly when adding a card at the lower end of a series in the panel 10, the upper edge 19 of the new card is associated with the card above by placing it behind the body 12 of the last card in the series but in front of the depending ears of that card.

Assuming that it is desired to add a card to the top of a series already in the panel, the new card is grasped at the upper edge near its middle and brought down to the cards in the panel from above at a slight angle, as indicated in the drawings. The depending ear of the new card is slid a slight distance under the upper edge of the top card and is then slid sideways underneath the flange, (Fig. 7). This end of the card may now be pushed downwardly till the juncture point 16 between the depending ear and the body of the card engages against the upper edge of the top card of the series already in the panel. The other end of the new card is then brought down nearer to the top of the card already in the panel, the new card being flexed at the middle as already mentioned, and the depending ear on this second end of the new card is pushed a slight distance under the upper edge of the card already in the panel, but not a sufiicient distance to carry it below the joined portion 18. of the ear of the card below. The operation is completed by allowing the ear of the new card to slide sideways under the flange and pushing that end of the card down as before.

If a card is to be inserted at the bottom of a series already in the panel, the upper corners of the new card are each in turn placed on top of the exposed portions of the de pending ears of the bottom card of the series and then slid in between the exposed edge and the lower tongue of the flange, the body of the bottom card of the series already having been turned up.

If a card is to be added in the middle of a series of cards already in the panel, the cards are separated until there is a space equal to the amount ofoverlap between one card and its neighbor, i. e., the depthof the union between the ears and the body portion. The card is then grasped as when placing the card at the top of the series, each ear being placed in position successively as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The lower end of the first ear to be positioned is placed under the upper edge 19 of the card below and slid outwardly until the edge of the tongue of the new card is on top of the edge of the tongue above. The edge of the tongue of the new card is then laid down on top of the tongue of the card above and slid under the flange. The manner of insertion at the other end will be obvious from the descriptions already given.

It will be observed that while the cards are associated together in such a manner that they can be carried as a unit without a panel, the disadvantages of nested cards are avoided. Thus when the cards are in the panel, a card can be removed from any part of the series without disturbing the cards above or below the one to be removed. To remove a card from the series it is merely necessary to fold back the cards above without sliding them lengthwise of the panel at all and the card can be removed by simply sliding it upward over the folded back rectangular portions of the cards above and either twisting the card sideways or flexing it along the median line, as already mentioned. It will be observed that the maintenance of the overlap of the cards depends upon the cards lying flat rather than turned back along the hinge line and this straddle of the upper edge of the card below by two elements which are laterally adjacent but not overlapping and hinged to each other as described, is one of the points of novelty of the invention.

at I claim is:

1. A visible index card made of one integral piece of sheet material comprising a Ill) body portion in combination with a depending ear on either side of said body portion at the upper edge, said ears lying close to the body portion below the juncture between said body portion and said ears.

2. A visible index card comprising a body portion in combination with a depending ear at either side of said body portion at the upper edge, said body portion being hinged on a line reaching from one free side edge of said body portion to the other.

3. An integral visible index card comprising a body portion in combination with susnding and spacing means outside said ody portion comprising a downwardly hanging ear joined thereto on each side at the upper edge thereof, said body portion being hinged on a line joining the points of severance between the body portion and the ears.

4. A visible index comprising a panel having inwardly facing opposed grooves in combination with a series of cards mounted therein, each card comprising a body portion overl ing the body portion of the card below and means attached to either side of the body portion underlying the corresponding means of the card below.

5. A visible index comprising a panel having inwardly facing opposed flanges in combination with a series of overlapping hinged cards each comprising a body portion overlying the body portion of the card below and a depen ing ear attached to each side of the body portion at its upper edge underlying the corresponding flange and the ear of the card below, and extending inwardly beyond that flange.

6. A visible index comprising a panel panel, and a downwardly hanging ear joined to each side of the body portion at its upper edge underlying an ear of the card below and extending lnwardly of the corresponding groove.

7. A visible index comprising a panel having inwardly facing opposed flanges in combination with a series of overlapping hinged cards each comprising a body portion overlying the body portion of the card below and a depending ear integral with the body portion at each side thereof at its upper edge underlying the corresponding ear of the card below and the flange but extending inwardly of the latter, there being a hinge line joining the points of severance between the ears and the card.

8. A visible index comprising a panel having inwardly facing opposed flanges in combination with a series of overlapping hinged cards each comprising a rectangular portion and-a carrier hinged to the upper edge of the rectangular portion, said carrier having depending ears extending outwardly t0 the full width of the grooves formed b the flanges and extending inwardly beyon said flanges, said ears underlying the corres 0nding ears of the card below, substantia 1y as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALWIN VON AUW. 

